Pattern & Print

Baby fever.

emma — Thu, 17 May 2012 20:04:35 +0000

We’re just a couple of weeks from having our second child, and there’s a LOT of nesting going on over here. It’s taking the form of a total re-do of my office and the reorganization of most of the closets. I don’t actually know what any of it has to do with a new baby, but I figure I can’t fight nature so I’m taking advantage of this last burst of energy before we enter the newborn phase. There are a couple of finds that I’m particularly excited about. The first is a little blue couch from Target online – apparently an essential piece of baby gear when redoing an office…

The second is a huge linen-covered bulletin board. As I’m starting my foray into designing fabric, I finally have a place for some of the images that have been inspiring my own designs. Stay tuned. Again, this somehow falls under the category of baby gear. A more organized house = a happier baby? I can’t explain it!

And, of course, a P&P item for baby. Lindsay Marsden’s gorgeous lambswool baby blankets. Check them out here. They make excellent baby shower gifts.

Gray Malin

emma — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 20:22:03 +0000

There will be an update from my New York trip soon, but in the meantime here’s a little photographic inspiration. Photographer Gray Malin takes these gorgeous aerial photographs – part of a series called À La Plage, À La Piscine. He says, “From above, a simple beach or pool becomes a blank canvas that allows me to start seeing the world as art. People and objects become patterns creating repetition, shape and form.” Beautiful eh?

NYC Inspiration.

emma — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:25:47 +0000

Tomorrow I’ll be at the New York International Gift Fair to find some new goodies for the shop. I’m particularly excited to visit the Designer/Maker section. I met all kinds of inspiring folks last year and can’t wait to wander the aisles once again. Also on the docket for this trip: a dear friend is flying in from Portland, Oregon to enjoy some time with me in the city. I’m hoping we’ll visit a few of my favorite shops, like ABC Carpet & Home and Fishs Eddy. And I’m dying to get to the Marimekko store on 5th Avenue for a dose of Finnish fabulousness. The Brooklyn Flea is also on the list. Seriously, will three days be enough? Cheers to inspiration!

ABC Carpet & Home

Fishs Eddy NYC umbrella

Marimekko's flagship store on 5th Avenue

Brooklyn Flea

Wow. Altitude Design Summit.

emma — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:30:13 +0000

I got an email yesterday from Aeolidia, the folks who put together my site and shop, about the Altitude Design Summit in Salt Lake City. Holy you-know-what, I want to go!!! Sadly the registration for this year is full, but I am RIGHT NOW putting it in my calendar for next year. Speakers for this year include Aeolidia’s Arianne Foulks, the fabric and sewing goddess Amy Butler, Grace Bonney from Design Sponge, Ben Silvermann from the amazing Pinterest, and many others I admire. Wow wow wow.

The Summit, also known as Alt, describes itself:

“If you’re obsessed with lifestyle, food and fashion blogs, fantastic images, smart ideas and great design inside and outside — all wrapped up with a social media bow — Altitude Design Summit is the place to be. Because we feed those obsessions. “

The schedule is jam-packed with panels and roundtable discussions. Oh, and and while you’re at it, you can go skiing or check out Sundance. Again, holy you-know-what!

Alt is held every January.

Happy New Year!

emma — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 21:11:43 +0000

We hope you’re all having a happy holiday season. Here in Portland, Maine we’ve still got at least four Terry’s Chocolate Oranges to eat and we’re diligently, methodically working our way through them. Etta, at 20 months, loved pulling ornaments off the tree and worked hard on perfecting her “Ho Ho Ho” which I suspect will continue for months.

We’re looking forward to a new P&P year and thought we’d celebrate by offering all our thomaspaul items for 20% off. Check them out here and enjoy!

The season of entertaining begins.

emma — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 20:34:33 +0000

On the eve of Thanksgiving we’ve got a lot to be thankful for over here in Portland, Maine. Over the past few months we’ve been excited to see orders come in from all over the country, and we love seeing you on Facebook as well. We’re thankful for our budding business. We’re also thankful to be spending time with family tomorrow, cooking and eating! It’s official – we’ve entered the season of entertaining. Here are a few colorful and cheerful P&P items that we think will help set the mood for your entertaining this season. Have a very happy Thanksgiving!

We LOVE sending presents.

emma — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 19:11:01 +0000

There’s nothing like receiving a beautiful package in the mail, eh? We love the satisfying act of wrapping and sending out gifts – finding the right box, carefully cutting the paper, and tying the bow. Knowing that it will make someone smile on the other end is a great feeling. We’ll wrap your gift beautifully and with love. We’ll also include a hand-written card like this one with your message. Just write us a note in the comment section when you make your purchase. Any questions? We’re here! Just give us a call or send an email.

We love green.

emma — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 18:16:55 +0000

I know, I know. It’s fall and we’re supposed to be all brown and orange right now, but I can never get enough green! Green is thought to relieve stress and to promote healing. I love green, and maybe that’s why. I love staring into a bowl of bright green pea soup, I love the big expanse of green that runs down to the water on the East End of Portland near my house, I love a bright green room, and I can never find enough clothing or shoes in just the right shade of green. It’s no surprise then that I also love Brita Sweden’s woven plastic rug in green. Not only are the Brita folks lovely, they make these incredibly durable, beautiful rugs. They’re reversible and made in Sweden from soft plastic. Check out our other colors here.

Fall begins…

emma — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 13:59:00 +0000

For us, fall means catching up on everything we’ve put off during the summer knowing we have a long Maine winter ahead of us to put it all right. First on the list is to pull out all the hats and gloves from the attic and put away the pile of flip flops by the back door. Next, I’m going to figure out how to organize little Etta’s toys. Who knew a 17 month-old came with so much stuff? Fall = time to get organized!

In the spirit of getting organized, check out these lovely storage bins from Lovell Designs of Canada. I don’t like to admit that summer’s over, but they are perfect for storing winter hats and gloves, sweaters, scarves, and all the other necessities of fall and winter.

Scandinavian style

emma — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 15:39:33 +0000

Most design-lovers we know have a Major thing for Scandinavian style. ISAK, based in London, designs and produces lovely Scandinavian-esque bits and pieces and we can’t get enough! Clean, simple, colorful. We love it. Check out our other ISAK goodies here.